Santi Cazorla: The magic in extraordinary people

Spain’s 7-0 victory over Malta on the morning of November 16 marked the first time in 4 years and 2 days, Santi Carzola scored for the bull team.

4 years and 2 days, a player like Ronaldo can win 3 Champions League titles in that time. Another player, like Neymar, may also lose himself, sinking in non-professional matters, during the same period. As for Santi Cazorla, the past 4 years and 2 days, was the time of the test, the most painful period of his career, and also the time he showed people how strong he was.

“You’re lucky to be able to go”. Santi Cazorla narrated what Dr. Mikel Sanchez told him, after undergoing 11 surgeries to save his ankle. This injury started in 2013 and lasted until 2016 when Cazorla could not stop the pain anymore after the match between Arsenal and Ludogorets in the UEFA Europa League.

His visits to the operating table caused him to have an Achilles tendon infection, and the former Arsenal player had to take a piece of skin on his arm to cover the 8 cm long hole in his right heel. Even professor Arsene Wenger had to say that it was the most terrible injury he had ever witnessed. Cazorla’s injuries have left Arsenal impatient. At that time, the childhood team Villareal had spread his arms to welcome Santi back…

After 636 days, the player born in 1984 returned to play. Fans of the “Yellow Submarine” could not hide their emotions when they saw the “Magician” put on their shoes. They hit each other, telling each other that they are not dreaming, right, Cazorla is returning, dribbling, passing people, creating. Cazorla marked his return with 4 goals and 10 assists for Villareal in the 2018-2019 season in La Liga, he played up to 30 matches, including 25 kicks. Cazorla almost unchanged, still gallant, skillful with quick iron passes (successful pass rate of 86.6%), not bad at all.

But just returning to play is not enough, Santi wants him to play well this season. After 12 La Liga matches this season, Cazorla has scored 5 goals, more than he has scored in the previous season. Cazorla made even the fans of Real Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia pay attention to her. And of course, Spain coach Robert Moreno could not ignore Santi’s efforts.

October 12, 2019, Santi is back in the Spain team. He played 26 minutes in a draw with Norway in Euro 2020 qualifiers.

More than a month later, Santi was named in the starting line-up against Malta, and this time, he met the long-term expectations of the Spanish fans. An exquisite left-foot shot that bears the trademark of the former Arsenal player to raise the score to 2-0 for Spain, and the entire Ramon de Carranza field is crazy about the midfielder from Llanera. He ran to the corner of the pitch to celebrate with his Spanish team-mates, something he has waited four years and two days to experience again, since Cazorla scored against England on November 13, 2015.

Prestigious Spanish newspapers like Marca or AS call Cazorla a legend. And coach Robert Moreno did not regret praising the 35-year-old player: “After what he went through with terrible injuries, today’s goal of Cazorla is really special”.